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"hate and persecution of Jews and other "undesired groups" was a core part of Nazi propaganda." Hate and persecution of all minorities in europe was the expect
by fsloth 6y ago
"hate and persecution of Jews and other "undesired groups" was a core part of Nazi propaganda."
Hate and persecution of all minorities in europe was the expected status quo even after the war. Only after 60's you are seeing minority group rights becoming a thing, and they are still problematic in places.
Nazi's total genocide was the thing that was completely out of bounds of accepted civilized behaviour circa 1940. Not racism.
"Everyone did it" is not an excuse, but on basic expectations most of europe was racist and oprressive of minorities. German people were not worse than anyone else.
I'm not saying that this excuses anything, but the claim that "on average, they weren't worse than anyone else" holds.
The guilt for the genocide should be mostly on the shoulders of the administration and the officers who carried it out, not the average German citizen.